“Don’t be selfish or conceited. Humbly value others above yourselves." ~ Philippians 2:3
One was black, one was white. One was from the South, the other from the
mid-west. One was a first-round draft
pick the other signed as a free agent and was relegated to the practice squad.
Gale Sayers and Brian
Piccolo couldn’t have been more different, yet they became close friends. They
had two things in common: open minds and open hearts.
It was a friendship
that shattered social norms in the late 1960′s. They became the first
interracial roommates in NFL history. Their friendship, love, and support set a
brilliant example for the world.
Sayers,
24 at the time, was already an established star, a shy, humble black man who was
generally regarded as warm and affectionate. Piccolo, the same age and white, had
an effusive personality and competed with Sayers for playing time in the Bears’
backfield.
By
1969, the Bears were in the midst of a 1-13 season, their worst in the history
of the franchise. Piccolo finally earned a place in the starting lineup
blocking for the much-heralded Sayers. During the November 16th game
in Atlanta, Piccolo voluntarily left the field unable to catch his breath. A healthy Piccolo would never have done that,
raising concern among his teammates and coaches.
When the Bears returned
to Chicago, Piccolo received a diagnosis of late-stage testicular cancer. Sayers
would remain unfailingly by his side while he fought for his life.
Sayers, who’d
recovered from his injuries to win the NFL Rushing Title, was honored with the
George Halas Award as the league's most courageous player for the 1969 season.
At a ceremony in New York, Sayers gave an emotional speech saying there was
somebody more deserving:
"He
has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself
and his opponent - cancer," Sayers told the audience. "You
flatter me by giving me this award, but tonight I accept it for Brian Piccolo.
It will be his tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like you all to love
him, too. When you hit your knees tonight, please ask God to love him."
Brian Piccolo lost
his battle with cancer less than a month later at the age of 26.
Their enduring
friendship became the subject of “Brian’s Song,” a 1971 made-for-TV movie that
remains one of the most popular sports movies of all time. It resonated because
of its truth. Their friendship, love, and support for each other was woven with
threads of every color of human skin; a new symbol of humanity working together
for a better future.
